Stop motion for multiple thread feeding apparatus



Au 11, I936. E. w. SIMPSON 2,050,389

STOP MOTION FOR MULTIPLE THREAD FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ea vl W. Eirnpaun BY I 19 ATTORNEY 11, 1936. E. w. SIMPSON STOP MOTION FOR MULTIPLE THREAD FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Earl W. Eirnpaun t w monusv Aug. 11, 1936. E w. SIMPSON 2,050,389

STOP MOTIO FOR MULTIPLE THREAD FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E/ec i'ro Mag/lei.

INVENTOR EEW I iim Sun ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1936. I E. w. SIMPSON ,050,389

STOP MOTION FQR MULTIPLE THREAD FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY v INVENTOR Earl \A/ 5mm Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES STOP MOTION FOR MULTIPLE THREAD FEEDING APPARATUS Earl W. Simpson, Fultonville, N. Y., assignor to- Julius Kayser & 00., New York, N.. Y.

Application February 12, 1935, Serial No. 6,141

24 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved stop motion for a multiple thread feeding apparatus and, while the invention is more particularly applicable to a stop motion for a warp knitting machine of the tricot type, it may also be advantageweighted members, each engaging an individual thread and weighted or loaded so that-under the action of gravity-it will swing from its normal thread engaging position in the event of its thread breaking or becoming abnormally loose, and will engage an electric contact device so as to close a circuit and cause the energization of mechanism for the stoppage of the machine or thread feeding mechanism.

In the case of warp knitting machines, the normal operation of the needles may cause a regular loosening and tightening of the threads fed thereto, and in order to avoid the actuation of a stop mechanism such as above referred to during the loosening of the threads, it has been heretofore proposed to provide mechanical means actuated in timed relation to the operation of the needles and adapted to positively prevent swinging movement of the thread engaging members while the threads are loosened in the natural cycle of operation.

One object of my present invention is to provide a stop motion of this type having improved means whereby the natural loosening of the threads during the normal operaton of a knitting machine or other mechanism will not cause the stop motion to function and interrupt the operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby thread engaging members tend to move into position to cause the stop motion to function only while the portions of the threads engaged by said members are normally undertension.

Still another object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism comprising an electric circuit with a plurality of switch members each engaging a thread and each adapted to slide into circuit closing position when a thread breaksor becomes abnormally loose, this sliding movement of the members being effected by mechanical, magnetic or electro-magnetic mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the construction, arrangement and operation may be made without-departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side view showing partly in sectiona portion of a tricot knitting machine with my invention applied thereto; 'Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view showing certain parts of the same machine drawn to a smaller scale and showing the stop mechanism; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a number of contact members with guide means therefor; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in side view, and partly in section, a portion of a modified form of the stop mechanism; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing part of the stop mechanism, Fig. 6 is a similar'view showing parts of a modified form of the stop mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a detail section of another form.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, in which the improved stop mechanism is shown applied to a tricot knitting machine, two sets of warp threads in, I i are shown and it will be understood that the application of the stop mechanism to both sets of threads is exactly the same. The machine comprises a main frame l2 carrying two upper side frames or brackets I3 between which are supported the beams l4, 15 from which the threads to, II respectively are fed, these beams being mounted in the usual well known manner and the threads being passed over spring actuated yarn tension controls It, ll of the usual well known form.

Beneath each of the said tension control members, the machine is provided with an attachment extending the full width of the set of warp threads and having a member for independent engagement with each individual thread and as the two attachments are substantially similar, a description of one will be sufilcient for a clear understanding.

For each set of threads an attachment is provided--see particularly Fig. l-comprising end brackets I8 mounted by means of screws 19 on the end frames l3, and being retained in adjusted position by means of screws 20 having lock nuts 2| thereon. Carried on each pair of end brackets I8 is an anglebar 22 extending from side to side of the machine and secured to this bar 22 by means of a bolt 23, are a number of small brackets 24 each of which carries a hooked finger 25 for the support of a rod or wire 26 extending the full width of the machine, and adapted to hold the threads in proper relation to the stop mechanism. The fingers 25 are adjustably mounted on the small brackets 24 so that they may be held in the position most suitable for the type of thread employed in the knitting machine. The angle bar 22 also carries a bar 21 secured thereto by means of bolts 28, this bar 21 being made of soft metal and carrying a series of projecting plates or blades 29 of thin steel, which blades are so mounted in parallel and spaced relation to each other that they provide slots or spaces for the accommodation of sliding contact members 30 of thin sheet metal. One member 30 is provided for each thread which latter engages an eye or slot 3| in the front extremity of said member. The upper front parts of the blades 29 have secured thereon wires or fine rods 32, 33 extending from side to side of the machine and serving as guides for the members 30. The bolts 28 that secure the bar 21 to the angle bar 22 also secure to the latter bar a series of arms 34 having hooked ends for the support of a rod or thin shaft 35 which extends the full width of the machine and is permanently in contact with the lower edges of the members 30 for the purpose hereinafter described. Each member 30 is provided with a depending lug 36 for limiting the backward and forward motion of the member and at the rear extremity thereof the member has an upwardly projecting portion 31 adapted to engage an electrical contact bar 38 only when the member is moved to its extreme forward position.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, each bar 35, which extends the full width of the machine and is in permanent contact with the under-edges of one set of members 30, is provided at one or both sides of the machine with a spur gear 39 in mesh with a toothed quadrant 40 mounted on a stud 4| on a suitable part of the side frame of the machine. The two quadrants 40 are connected to each other by means of a rod 42 and the lower quadrant 40 is connected by means of a rod 43 to one arm of a double-armed lever 44 mounted on a stud 45,

on a fixed part of the machine. The second arm of the lever 44 is connected to a pull-spring 46 by means of which the lever 44 is pulled downwardly while a roller 41 on the said arm engages the face of a cam 48 fixed to a shaft 49 which latter may form a usual part of the tricot knitting machine so that as the shaft 49 rotates the quadrants 40 are caused to swing back and forth and the spur wheels 39 and rods 35 are caused to rotate, first in one direction and then in another with the result that the said switch members 30 by frictional contact with the rods 35 tend to slide in a substantially horizontal direction backwardly and forwardly during the normal cycle of operation of the machine, but under normal operation backward movement of the members 30 is prevented by engagement of their lugs 36 with the rods 35 and forward movement is prevented by the tension in the threads engaging the eyes or slots in the front extremities of said members.

In a tricot knitting machine of this type, the two sets of threads III, II are lead to thread guides 50, 5| respectively, so that they are-in the usual manner-brought into regular operative relation with the needles 52, and as these needles are raised and lowered in the normal cycle of operation of the knitting machine, the

65 tension upon the threads I0, I I is momentarily lessened at regular recurring intervals, and in order to avoid the possibility of forward movement of a contact member 30, due to the normal lessening of the thread tension, and to avoid the possibility of the stop motion being thus unnecessarily operated, the arrangement-in accordance with my invention-is such that the rotation of the rods 35 in a direction (clockwise-Fig. 2) to tend to produce forward movement of the members 30 takes place only when the threads are normally under tension and, during the time that the threads are normally subjected to lesser tension due to the operation of the needle bar in the normal operation of the machine, the rods 35 rotate in the opposite direction and tend to move 5 the members 30 backwardly. When one of the threads ID or II breaks, or becomes abnormally loose due to some imperfection or defect in a needle or other part, however, the contact member 30 engaging such threads is moved forwardly when the rod 35 supporting it is turned in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, with the result that the upwardly projecting portion 31 on this member 30 comes into engagement with the contact bar 38, and closes an electric circuit. By means 15 of the screws 20 the brackets l8 may be adjusted so as to carry the contact members 30 in a plane slightly inclined to the horizontal as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, to facilitate the forward sliding movement of said members. 20 Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings it should be understood that the contact members 30 are all permanently connected electrically with the frame of the knitting machine through their contact with the guide plates 29, rods 35 and other parts while the contact bar 38 is normally insulated from the other parts of the machine. This .contact bar 38 is connected by a lead 53 to a source of electrical energy 54 which latter is connected by a lead 55 to an electro-magnet 56 adapted to cooperate with a pivoted armature 51 carrying a latch member 58 which normally engages means whereby the machine is maintained in natural running position. Fig. 5 of the drawings gives a conventional showing of stop mechanism comprising a conventional belt-shifter 59 secured on a sliding shaft 60 mounted in the frame 6| of the machine, the,shaft 60 and belt shifter 59 being moved to the leftP-Fig. 5-when the latch member 58 releases an extension 62 on a collar 63 and permits a spring 64 to expand between the said collar 63 and the frame 6|. The'electromagnet 56 is connected by means of a lead 65 to the machine frame 6| so that contact between any one of the members 30 and the contact bar 38 results in energization of the electro-magnet 56 and in actuation of the stop motion for arresting the normal operation of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the modified arrangement here shown comprises the contact bar 38, and a stop bar 66 for limiting the backward movements of contact members 61 which are substantially the same as the members 30 but are made without depending stop pieces. The members 61 are carried between guide blades 29 similar to those previously described, but for the actuation of the members 61 there is provided a backwardly and forwardly sliding bar 68 consisting of a permanent magnet mounted between guides 69 and actuated by a double armed lever 10, one arm of which -is connected and actuated by a rod H from a moving part of the existing machine while the other arm engages a recess formed by depend- 65 .ing members I2 on the underside of the bar 68,

and the arrangement is such that the weight of the members 61 is carried by the bar 68 and during the forward movement of the said bar, the latter tends to move the members 61 forwardly 70 to cause a rear upstanding end 13 to engage the contact bar 38, this forward movement of the bar 68 taking place only while the threads are normally under tension.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, contact all members 14 are engaged, while in their normal position, by a stop member 66 and are guided in -a sidewise direction by guide blades 29 as previously described or in other suitable manner and are suitably supported so that they may slide freely in a horizontal direction. In this modified form of the apparatus'a fixed electromagnetic bar 715 is adapted-when energized to attract depending lugs IS on the members l4 so that how of current through the electromagnet l5 tends to move the said members horizontally forward. In the arrangement shown a lead it connects the electro-magnet E5 to the frame of the machine while a lead connects the electro-magnet to a source of electrical energy at which latter is also connected by a lead 82 to an electro-magnet 83 for the actuation of an armature latch device 86, similar to that described in connection with Fig. 5, for stopping the actuation of the machine when current is supplied to the electro-magnet 83 through a lead d, through the contact bar it and through one of the contact members at in permanent electrical connection with the machineframe. The

lead 82 is also connected by a lead 86 to a brush or contact member Bl engaging the periphery of a rotary member 88 which is carried on a shaft 539 in permanent connection with the frame of the machine through a lead 90. This rotary member 88 has an insulating part at for engagement with the brush 8? during a part of the revolution, and the shaft 89 and rotary member 38 are driven continuously-in the direction of the arrow-from a moving part of the existing machine, and the arrangement is such that the fixed electro-magnet i5 is energized intermittently and only while the parts of the threads engaged by the contact members M are under tension, so that any member M that is not held in position by its thread is drawn forwardly until it engages the contact bar 38 and closes the circuit controlling the stop mechanism. During the regularly recurring intervals when the natural operation of the machine causes a lessening in the tension of the threads, the insulating member 91 is in contact with the brush div and the flow of current through the electromagnet is thus interrupted so that during these intervals the members 14 are not urged forwardly by the electro-magnet into position to engage the contact bar 38.

Referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings, this modified form of the apparatus is actuated by an intermittently rotating rod 35 in the manner previously described, but the contact strips 92, in this case, are mounted on an incline and have at their forward extremities hooks93 for engaging the individual thread lO .or H, and have at their rear extremities depending parts 94 for engagement (when in the position shown in dotted lines) with a contact wire 95 extending from side to side of the machine and stretched between two crank arms .96 suitably insulated and clamped in the side frames of the machine, and adapted to be adjusted about their centers ill for the purpose of varying the amount of travel of the contact strips Q2. The arms 96 are shown mounted in side plates 98 which also carry a front wire 99 extending the full width of the machine and adapted to engage behind the threads to hold same in the hooks 93, and backward and downward movement of a strip 92 into circuit-closing position is permitted only when its thread breaks or becomes abnormally loose.

For separating and guiding the contact strips 92, means are provided comprising a bar I02, preferably made in a number of sections, and carrying spaced blades I03 of the type shown at Fig. 3, the front extremities of these blades Hi3 being provided with a pair of spaced wires 5 6M, carried on posts W5 mounted on said plates 98 and extending from side to side of the machine. The contact strips 92 may slide freely between the two wires HM, and between adjacent blades its so that the strips 92 are effectively guided and mounted in the supporting means without positive connection thereto, and indi-, vidual strips may be conveniently removed or replaced, and in cases where the nature of the fabric being produced does not require a full set of threads, the contact-plates corresponding to the missing threads may be conveniently removed. In the arrangement shown, the bar I82 is mounted upon an angle bar liil that extends across the machine and is suitably connected to 20 a convenient part of the framework and, at the ends of the angle bar till the side plates 98 are connected thereto through the medium of flanged ends Mill on such plates.

Although the drawings and above specification 25 disclose the best modes in which I have contemplated embodying my ihvention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention, many changes in form, construction and 30 arrangement of parts may be made, as circumstances require, or experience suggests'without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising an-electric circuit, stop mechanism actuated from said circuit, a fixed contact element in the circuit, a plurality of movable contact members, each engaging an individual thread and capable of movement into engagement with said element to close the circuit, and intermittently operated rotary means frictionally engaging all said members for effecting the circuit closing movement of a member when it is relieved from the tension of its thread.

2. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising an electric circuit, stop mechanism actuated from said circuit, a fixed contact element in the circuit, a. plurality of slidable con- 50 tact strips, each engaging an, individual thread and capable of movement into engagement with said element to close the circuit, and mechanically rotated means engaging all said strips for eifecting the circuit closing movement of a strip when it is relieved from the tensionof its thread.

3. A stop motion for a warp knitting machine of the character described comprising electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine, a contact element for the control of the electrical operation, a plurality of disconnected contact members each engaged by an individual thread, means for guiding said members in an inclined path and electro-rnagnetic means controlled in timed relation to the operation of the machine for imparting sliding movement to one of said members to cause contact thereof with the said element when the thread engaging said member breaks or becomes abnormally loose.

4. A stop motion ,for a warp knitting machine of the character described comprising electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine, a. contact element for the electrical operation, a plurality of disconnected strips 75 each engaged by an individual thread, means for guiding said strips individually in a substantially horizontal path and friction means for imparting periodic sliding movement to one of said strips to cause contact thereof with the said element when the thread engaging said strip breaks or becomes abnormally loose.

5. A stop motion for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatus comprising a contact bar, a plurality of contact strips each engaging an individual thread, a rotary member under control of the warp knitting machine and working in timed relation therewith, said rotary member frictionally engaging said members and tending to impart movement thereto and means on each member for engaging the contact bar when movement is imparted to such member due to the removal of the resistance normally caused by the tension of the thread in engagement therewith.

6. A stop motion for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatu comprising a contact her, a plurality of contact strips each engaging an individual thread, a magnetic member engaging the lower edges of said members and tending to impart horizontal movement thereto and a projecting part on each member for engaging the contact bar when movement is imparted to such member due to the removal of the resistance normally caused by the tension of the thread in engagement therewith.

7. A stop motion for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatus, comprising a contact bar, a plurality of sliding strip members each engaging an individual thread and each capable of engaging such bar to close the electric circuit, mechanically actuated means driven in timed relation to the mechanism of the machine and engaging the lower edges of all said members and tending to move same at regularly recurring intervals into circuit closing position.

8. A stop motion'for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatus, comprising a contact element, a plurality of contact strips one engaging each individual thread and all capable of engaging said element to close the circuit, a plurality of guide blades extending between and arranged alternately with said strips, means for guiding said strips in a horizontal path between said blades, and mechanical means intermittently tending to impart to said strips horizontal motion in a direction to cause circuit closing contact of said strips with said contact element.

9. A stop motion for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatus, comprising a contact element, a plurality of contact members one engaging each individual thread and all capable of engaging said element to close the circuit, a plurality of guide blades extending between and arranged alternately with said members to guide the latter in a sidewise direction, means for guiding said members in a horizontal path between said blades, and a rotary rod in frictional contact with the lower edges of said members and intermittently tending to impart thereto horizontal motion in a direction to cause circuit closing en gagement of said members with said contact ele- 'ment.

impart, to said members, movement in a direction to cause circuit closing contact with said element, and means for imparting movement to said driven member in timed relation to the natural variation in the tension of the threads due to the normal operation of the machine.

11. A stop motion for warp knitting machines of the character described having electrically actuated apparatus for stopping the operation of the machine and means for controlling the electric circuit of such apparatus comprising, a fixed contact element, a plurality of horizontally sliding strips each engaging an individual thread and each capable of independent horizontal move ment, means on each member for engaging the said contact element to close the circuit, a rotary member supporting said members and tending to move said members by frictional contact to cause circuit closing contact between said member and said element and means for imparting to said rotary member intermittent rotary movement in timed relation to the natural variation in the tension of the thread due to the normal operation of the machine.

12. A stop motion of the character described for use in connection with apparatus for feeding a multiplicity of threads, the tension of which periodically varies, comprising independently movable members each engaging a single thread, means disposed for engagement with said members and periodically movable to displace the latter in position to cause the actuation of the stop motion, and a movable transmitting mechanism connected to said means to impart thereto its periodic movement in timed relation with the periodic variation in the tension of the threads.

13. A stop motion of the character described for use in connection with apparatus for feeding a plurality of threads, the tension of which periodically varies, comprising an electric circuit for controlling the stop motion, a plurality of,contact members adapted to close said circuit, one member engaging each individual thread, means disposed for engagement with said members and periodically movable to displace the latter into circuit closing position, and a movement transmitting mechanism connected to said means to impart thereto its periodic movement in timed relation with the periodic variations in the tension of the threads.

14. A stop motion of the character described for use with apparatus for feeding a plurality of threads, the tension of which periodically varies. comprising an electric circuit, means in said circuit for actuating the stop motion, a' plurality of 75 ISO contact members for closing said circuit, reciprocating means periodically movable in one direction for effecting the circuit closing movement of one of said. members when the tension of the,

threads in engagement therewith does not prevent such movement, and means associated with said reciprocating means to impart thereto its periodic movement in timed relation with the periodic variations in the tension of the threads.

15. I stop motion of the character described for use with apparatus for feeding a plurality of threads, the tension of which periodically-varies, comprising an electrical stop motion circuit, a contact bar in said circuit, a plurality of metallic contact members capable of engaging said bar and engaged by an individual thread, rotary means engaging said members for effecting movement of a member in contact with said bar when said member is relieved from the tension of its engaging threads, and means associated with said rotary means to alternatively rotate the same in opposite directions in timed relation with the periodic variations in the tension of the threads.

16. A stop motion of the character described for use with apparatus for feeding a plurality of threads, the tension of which periodically varies, comprising an electrical circuit, a fixed contact bar in said circuit a plurality of independently movable and disconnected contact members capable of engaging said bar and each engaged by an individual thread, friction means engaging said members for efiecting periodical movement of a member in contact with said bar when said member is relieved from the tension of its engaging thread, and means associated with said friction means operable to periodically actuate the latter in timed relation with the periodic variations in the tension of the threads.

17. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising an electrical circuit, a fixed contact included in said circuit, a plurality of movable contact members, one for each thread and each member engaging its respective thread, rotatably driven means in slipping engagement with all of said members for moving the same as a group in a direction towards the stationary contact and adapted to carry into abutting relation with the latter anyone of said members when its thread breaks or becomes abnormally loose, and means for driving said first mentioned means.

18. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising an electrical circuit, a fixed contact included in said circuit, a plurality of movable contact members one for each thread and each member engaging its respective thread, rotatably driven means in slipping engagement with all of said members for moving the same as a group in a direction towards the stationary contact and adapted to carry into abutting relation with the latter anyone of said members when its thread breaks or becomes abnormally loose, and means operated by a power element of the warp knitting machine for driving said first mentioned means.

19. A stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines comprising an electric circuit, a plurality of movable contact members, one for each thread and each member engaging its respective thread, a bar fixed in the path of movement of said members and included in the circuit to form the stationary contact thereof, a rotatable rod frictionally engaging all of said movable contact members for moving the same as agroup in a direction towards the stationary contact and. adapted to carry into abutting relation with the latter anyone of said members when its thread breaks or becomes abnormally loose, and means 5 for rotating said rod.

20. A stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines comprising an electric circuit, a plurality of movable contact members, one for each thread and each member engaging its respective thread, a bar fixed'in the path of movement of said members and included in the circuit to form the stationary contact thereof, a rotatable rod frictionally engaging all of said movable contact members for moving the same as a group I .each thread and each member engaging its respective thread, a bar fixed in the path of movement of said members and included in the circuit to form the stationary contact thereof, a rotatable rod frictionally engaging all of said movable contact members for moving the same as a group in a direction towards the stationary contact, and means connected to said rod to alternatively and periodically rotate the same in a direction for moving the members towards the stationary con-. tact and then in a reverse direction for moving 85 said members away, from the stationary contact.

22. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising a plurality of disconnected and independently movable members, one engaging each individual thread, means having slipping engagement with the members and adapted to be driven to move anyone of said members into position to cause the stop motion to function when the thread engaged by said members breaks or becomes abnormally loose, and a mechanism con- 5 nected to a movable part of the warp knitting machine for actuation thereby for driving said means.

23. A stop motion for warp knitting machines comprising a plurality of movable members, one engaging each individual thread, means having slipping engagement with the members and adapted to be driven to move anyone of said members into position to cause the stop motion to function when the thread engaged by said member breaks or becomes abnormally loose, and a mechanism connected to a movable part of the warp knitting machine for actuation thereby for driving said means.

24. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, a plurality of paralleling sliding strip members, each engaging a single thread, a rod disposed to frictionally engage all of said mem'- bers and adapted to be revolved for imparting independent movement to anyone of said members when its thread breaks or becomes abnormally loose in order to cause the stop motion to function, and a mechanism connected to a movable part of the knitting machine for actuation thereby for revolving the rod.

EARL W. SIMPSON. 

